Tag: Advent Calendar

In the last post, I wrote about a few things our family will be focusing on this Advent. In this post, I want to highlight I few things I WON’T be doing.

Now before you read this list, please know that I’m tired. Really exhausted. I could give you many reasons why this is so, but I’m too tired do it. My only intent is to show you that not all families are alike, and that sometimes, one needs to cut back.

Everything you’re about to read on this list is, in fact, a good thing. If your family is able to do them all, I’m glad! It’s just that I can’t right now, and I suspect I’m not the only one who is a little overwhelmed.

Without any further ado, here we go.

9 Things I’m NOT Doing This Advent

I don’t have a Jesse Tree. One year I did, but not this year. And I know that Jesse Trees don’t even have to be a difficult thing to do. One can simply print off a bunch of paper ornaments, have the children color them, and then cut them out. But not me. Nope. I can’t.

I don’t even have an Advent Calendar. Our 2018 wall calendar will have to do. The thought of another trip into Target, or even clicking around on Amazon to find one, is just too much.

There is no Elf on my shelf. Nor has there ever been. I understand this is a fun thing for children, but mine will have to be satisfied with Mary and Joseph traveling around the house.

There is no Elf on these shelves. But there are books all over the floor of this room.

I’m not going to make a single cookie. Heck, I might not even make a single cookie during Christmas. My cookie press from Pampered Chef broke, and so I can’t make my all-time favorite Spritz Cookies using Grandma Hahn’s recipe. This does actually make me a little sad, but really, it’s freeing too. I know there won’t be any lack of cookies coming into the house anyway. In fact some have already found their way into my freezer, as my mother is such a go-getter that she and my aunt already supplied me with two huge containers full. So nope. I’m not making any cookies.

But hey look! I do have some cooking supplies. Maybe I’ll just lock myself in the pantry and eat those M&Ms and pretzels.

My box of Advent and Christmas books for the children to read is not out yet. I’ve just been too tired to actually walk down the stairs, turn a corner, open a door, and get it. I’m really hoping that I’ll find the motivation to do so, at least by December 24th. We do have some good ones. In the meantime, if I can’t, one year without them will be fine.

I’m not going to listen to Christmas music this Advent. Maybe. Goodness, this is such a hard one for me. I love Christmas music so much, that it isn’t uncommon for me to blast it any time of the year. Just ask my children. Who doesn’t love a little Sleigh Ride in July?

I’m not decorating for Christmas during Advent. This one is easy to not do for the obvious reason that I don’t have to do anything! We stopped decorating for Christmas during Advent a long time ago. Instead it’s become a family tradition to decorate on Christmas Eve, and I can’t tell you how much fun we have! And I also have the added bonus of my husband being home to carry the heavy boxes up from the basement for me. So I’m not really worried about this one.

I’m not going to buy a ton of Christmas gifts. We’ve been scaling back over the years, which has been difficult because our extended families are so generous! But now the grandparents are down to just one gift per child, and we’re doing the same. Well, not really, I guess. Each child gets one book, one practical item, and a little candy. (Candy because we abstain from sweets during Advent.) For example, my eldest son loves the Redwall series, so he’s getting book #8 along with a new watchband and a candy cane. We’ve found that less is more. It teaches the children gratitude.

And finally, I’m not going to write any more blog posts until Christmas. I need a little break, especially with my son’s medical issues. But don’t worry, I’ll be back! (I can’t seem to help myself, when it comes to writing, for better or for worse.)